Not Peer Reviewed
The Whore of Babylon (Quarto, 1607)
985
The third King to the King of Portugall.
987White haires like
siluer cloudes a priuiledge haue,
989Make away those 2. turne coates. Suite me next
990Like to a Sattin diuell (brauely) flie
993This very cap makes my head swell with wit.
995Bin mutinous, raild at the State, cursd peace:
996They walke with cro
s
s
e-armes, gaping for a day,
997Haue vnder-
shorde their eie-lids (like trap windows.)
998To keep them open, and with yawning eares,
1000Beat vp her drum: this lards me fat with laughter,
1002That are to bleed are mark'd: and all those doores,
1003Where ciuill Ma
s
s
acres, murders (di'd in graine)
1005Haue tokens
stamp'd on them (to make 'em knowne)
1006More dreadfull then the Bils that preach the plague:
1007From them, with oyl'd hammes (lap'd in seruile blew)
1009To liue things (made of clods) poore countrey sots,
1010And drunke they are: whole
shires with it do reele,
1013But poorely man'd, and cannot hold out long
1015Y'are a poore scholler?
1016
Campeius.
Yes.
1017
3. King.
What read you?
1018
Camp.
A booke.
1023
3. King.
What troubles you?
1024
Camp.
You trouble me: pray leaue me.
1026
Camp.
Say yee?
1029
3. King.
You know me not.
1031Are you a scholler?
1035Mee thinks you
should know manners, by your leaue Sir.
1036
3. Ring.
Pray leaue your name behind you.
1037
Camp.
Name, Campeius.
1038
3. King.
Campeius! vmh: Campeius? a lucky plannet
1039Strikes out this houre: Campeius! Babylon,
1040His name hath in her tables: on his forehead,
1041Our Queene hath set her marke: it is a mould
1043A Church in two, then Schollers discontent.
1045Y'are happely met.
1047And you Sir.
1052Those that to vs here, are th'Antipodes,
1054Ne're drunke you of that nectar.
1055
Camp.
Neuer.
1056
3. King.
Neuer!
1057I wi
sh you had, I gather from your eyes,
1059This was Campeius once (tho not so learn'd)
1060For I was bred (as you) in Fairy Land,
1061A Country! well but tis our country: and so,
1062Good to breed beggers. Shee
starues Arts: fatts fools,
1064
Camp.
So Sir.
1066Pallats not you.
1067
Camp.
Yes.
1069I hope, again
st my countrey, or the State,
1070That any you can take hold of.
1071
Camp.
If they could,
1072Tis but mine I, to your no.
1077
Camp.
Sir, I know you not: this thing which you haue (raiz'd,
1079To feare (as they on sunbankes lie to read)
1083
3. King.
Doe you take me for a hangman?
1084
Camp.
I would be loath,
1085For any har
sh tune that my tongue may warble,
1088Welfare vnto you.
1089
Camp.
And to you. A word Sir:
1090Bred in this countrey?
1091
3. King.
Yes.
1092
Camp.
I am no bird
1094Your words make through this ayre (tho it be trobled)
1095Myne eare Sir, is no reaching Fowling piece
1096What pa
s
s
es through it, kills: you may proceed,
1098You haue th'aduantage now,
1099I put the longe
st weapon into your hands.
1101You draw me by this line: let's priuate walke.
1102
Camp.
This paths vnbruz'd: goe on Sir.
1103
3. King.
Sir I loue you.
1104The Dragons that keep learnings golden tree,
1105As you now haue, I fought with, conquered them,
1106Got to the highe
st bough, eat of the fruit,
1107And gathered of the seauen-fold leaues of Art,
1108What I de
sir'd; and yet for all the Moones
1109That I haue seene waxe olde, and pine for anger,
1110I had outwatched them: and for all the candles
1111I wa
sted out on long, and frozen nights,
1112To thaw them into day; I fild my head
1115And neuer could get out of such a gowne.
1117
3. King.
By changing Aire:
1118The god of waues wa
sht of my pouertie,
1120Whose beames begat me gold.
1122I am nail'd downe by wilfull beggerie,
1123Yet feele not where it enters: like a horse
1124My hoofes are par'd to 'th quicke) euen til they bleed)
1125To make me runne from hence, yet this Tortois
shell,
1126(My countrey) lies so heauy on my backe,
1129
3. King.
Countrey!
1130
Camp.
Shee hangs
1131Her owne brats at her backe, to teach them begge,
1133
3. King.
Yet your countrey.
1135My parents spent not wealth on me to this,
1136I will not
stay here long.
1137
3. King.
Doe not.
1138
Camp.
Beeing hence,
1140This Fairie land, for not rewarding merit:
1141If euer I come backe Ile be a Calthrop
1142To pricke my countries feet, that tread on me.
1145I dare for latine, hebrew, and the greeke,
1146Challenge an vniuer
sitie; yet (O euill hap!)
1147Three learned languages cannot set a nap
1148Vpon this thred-bare gowne: how is Arte curs'd?
1150Like common Fidlers, drawing down others meate
1153
Camp.
But how?
1158Th'inuenomed paper vpon which Ile write.
1159
3. King.
Know you the Court of Babylon?
1160
Camp.
I haue read,
1161How great it is, how glorious, and would venter
1162A soule to get but thither.
1164a soule going thither:
1165The Queene of Babylon rides on a bea
st,
1166That carries vp seauen heads.
1167
Camp.
Rare.
1170
3. King.
Shee with her owne hand
1171Will fil thee wine out of a golden bowle.
1173Steale o're, behold, here's one to waft thee hence,
1174Take leaue of none, tell none, th'art made, farewell.
1175
Camp.
Thus to meet heauen, who would not wade through hell?
1176
Exeunt Campeius and Sayler, manet 3. King,
1177
enter Sayler presently.
1179Lea
st worne too long, the Foxes skinne be known:
1182In nothing but in trappings, different be
1183From foote-cloth nags, on which gay fellows ride,
1184Saue that such gallants gallop in more pride.
1186Tis to be worne in Babylon.
Exit Sayler.
1187At this groue,
1188And much about this howre, a
slaue well moulded,
1189In profound, learned villany, gaue oath
Enter Coniurer.
1190To meet me: Art thou come! Can thy blacke Arte
1191This wonder bring to pa
s
s
e?
1192
Con.
See, it is done.
1194
Con.
This virgin waxe,
1195Burie I will in
slimie putred ground,
1196Where it may peece-meale rot: As this consumes,
1199And eating through her brea
st, turne there to gripings
1201As into this they eate.
1202
3. King.
Thou art fam'd for euer,
1206And (for this) each day
shalt thou goe in chaines.
1207Where wilt thou burie it?
1208
Coniur.
On this dunghill.
1209
3. King.
Good:
1211That whosoeuer with vnhallowed hands,
1212Shall dare to take it hence, may raue and die.
1213
Con.
Leaue me.
1221
ted, and led away.